THE Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is requesting public assistance to advance its investigation into the homicide of 30-year-old Amrendra Vijay Kumar of Surrey.
On April 9 (Tuesday), at approximately 11:47 p.m., Surrey RCMP received reports of shots fired at a town home complex in the 13900-block of 72nd Avenue. Emergency responders arrived on scene to find Kumar with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at scene. IHIT was called in to take conduct of the investigation.
IHIT is working closely with its partners from Surrey RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services (IFIS) and the B.C. Coroners Service to gather evidence.
Immediately following the shooting, a vehicle left the scene at a high rate of speed. Approximately 40 minutes later, at 12:27 a.m., Surrey RCMP received a call of a car fire in the area of 164th Street and 92nd Avenue. This vehicle is believed to be related to the earlier shooting and will be seized for further examination.
Investigators are asking the public for dash cam video for the following areas and time frame:
– 140th Street between 72nd Avenue and 88th Avenue from 11:45 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
– 72nd Avenue between King George Boulevard and 152nd Street from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
“We do not believe Mr. Kumar’s shooting was a random act and our detectives are working hard to determine motive,” says Corporal Frank Jang of IHIT. “We need those who knew Mr. Kumar to come forward and help us piece together the circumstances leading up to his death.”
[The VOICE learned on Wednesday that the victim had completed his MBBS from Punjab and had been in Canada for several years. He had gone back to India three months ago to get married. His wife is still in India. He was a hard working person who did two shifts of security while working as a healthcare worker and had bought his own place. However he used to get upset at bad drivers, often honking and shouting at them. A close friend believes he might have upset some driver while returning home from his healthcare job. We are only carrying his photos now because they have been given out to other media as well.]
Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551- IHIT (4448), or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).